Dandridge, TN: BSL not passed, City Council to start over

Previous articles on Dandridge, TN: http://stopbsl.com/?s=dandridge

The second article seems to indicate that a breed-specific ban may yet be passed.

http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=11309831

Pit Bull ban fails at Dandridge council meeting

Posted: Oct 13, 2009 8:45 PM

DANDRIDGE (WATE) — The Dandridge City Council rejected a proposed ban on pit bulls and will start from square one on the issue.

Town Administrator Jim Hutchinson said earlier this evening city councilman denied the proposal as written.

Hutchinson says the city is re-working the proposal to read “vicious dog” instead of naming a specific breed.

A workshop on the revisions will be held the first Tuesday in November.

A vote is expected in December.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=101793&provider=rss

(A a one-minute video story at the link includes several seconds footage from the meeting.)

Pit bull owners celebrate temporary victory against ban

Some pet owners are celebrating a victory, but it may be short-lived since a townwide pit bull ban is still a possibility.

Jim Matheny Updated: 10/14/2009 1:08:18 AM Posted: 10/13/2009 9:01:16 PM

After listening to more than an hour of passionate pleas from pit bull owners Tuesday night, the Dandridge Board of Aldermen voted to ditch its proposed regulation on pit bulls and start over from scratch.

Tuesday night was the third and final reading of the proposed regulation that would have banned any new pit bulls within town limits. The regulations would have also required owners of existing pit bull to obtain at least $50,000 of liability insurance.

Read previous WBIR story from September 15 for full details.

Going into Tuesday’s meeting, both supporters and opponents of the plan said it seemed to be a done deal. Five residents of Dandridge previously voiced concerns about the breed after some close calls with aggressive pit bulls.

“We were asked by citizens of this town to do something. This is the reason we are here tonight,” said George Gantte, Mayor of Dandridge.

More than 50 people showed up for Tuesday’s public hearing, all of them in opposition to restricting pit bulls. Most of those in attendance were not residents of Dandridge, but said the town’s proposed regulation impacts the entire region.

“When one town passes this type of breed specific legislation, it sets a precedent and signals other towns to do the same,” said Wendy Jackson with the East Tennessee Pit Bull Rescue.

Jodi Preis, founder of Bless the Bullys rescue group, drove from Crossville to voice her concerns to the regulations.

“Dogs are a product of their owners. If you have a problem dog issue, you have a problem dog owner issue,” said Preis. “There are alternatives to breed specific bans that help control problem-owners. That includes escalating fines for each infraction with a tiered system.”

The crowd pointed out several problems with breed specific legislation. Obstacles enforcement due to the difficulty associated with identifying pit bulls from other breeds.

Preis and others in the crowd provided the board with background literature in addition to outlining alternative laws that target problem-owners or individual dogs rather than an entire breed. Ultimately, the board decided to dismiss the current proposal and go back to the drawing board.

“I tend to lean towards something that regulates vicious dogs rather than a zeroing in on a specific breed. I do not think we should take any action on the current proposal,” said Alderman Ken Thornhill. “I think we should start over.”

Thornhill then indicated one of the residents who expressed concerns about pit bulls was also disturbed by other breeds of dog held by the same owner. He said a blanket regulation would address those problems as well. The board will now return to a work session to craft a new proposal. The final proposal will again require the three readings before it can be put into effect.

While many in the crowd considered the decision a victory, some were concerned the board may return with nearly identical regulations despite starting over.

“Banning a breed is not the answer. Making people responsible for their pets and holding people responsible for their actions, that’s the answer,” said Jackson. “When we address it through an owner’s aspect, they are less likely to do the same thing with a totally different dog. Maybe they [the town] will seek some advice and say, ‘Hey, help us get a better law here.’”